Ahmedabad, May 26: Shreyas Iyer delivered a captain’s knock for the ages, smashing an unbeaten 87 off just 41 balls, as Punjab Kings (PBKS) stormed into their second-ever IPL final with a thrilling five-wicket win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.
Chasing a formidable 204-run target, Iyer’s calm aggression and tactical brilliance ensured PBKS crossed the line in 19 overs, scripting a historic return to the IPL summit clash after 11 long years, their last final appearance coming back in 2014.
Match Summary: Punjab’s Grit vs Mumbai’s Firepower
Punjab’s chase had a shaky start, losing Prabhsimran Singh early for 6. But Priyansh Arya (20 off 10) provided some initial spark. A solid 38-run cameo from Josh Inglis built momentum before MI skipper Hardik Pandya removed him to wrest control back briefly.
Enter Nehal Wadhera, whose composed 48 off 34 balls paired perfectly with Iyer’s dominance. Their 84-run stand kept Punjab ahead of the run rate and set up a grand finish.
Despite a late run-out scare with Shashank Singh, Iyer remained unfazed. He reached his 50 in style and sealed the win with a towering six, finishing at a strike rate of 212.20.
A Captain for the History Books
With this win, Shreyas Iyer becomes the first captain to lead three different franchises to an IPL final — Delhi Capitals (2020), Kolkata Knight Riders (2024), and now Punjab Kings (2025). Having lifted the title with KKR, Iyer now has a shot at becoming a two-time IPL-winning captain, a rare feat in the tournament’s history.
Mumbai’s Batting Effort Falls Short
Put in to bat, Mumbai Indians posted a challenging 203/6, riding on strong contributions from:
- Tilak Varma (44 off 29)
- Suryakumar Yadav (44 off 26)
- Jonny Bairstow (38 off 24)
- Naman Dhir’s late burst (37 off 18)
However, MI lost key wickets at crucial intervals, especially a double blow at 142 that hampered their final push. The Punjab bowlers held their nerves with a disciplined effort:
- Azmatullah Omarzai: 2/43 (4)
- Kyle Jamieson: 1/30 (4)
- Marcus Stoinis: 1/14 (1)
- Vijaykumar Vyshak: 1/30 (3)
- Yuzvendra Chahal: 1/39 (4)
Mumbai’s Bowling Falters
With 204 to defend, MI’s bowling was surprisingly off-colour. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless and conceded 40 runs, while Ashwani Kumar (2/55) and Trent Boult (1 wicket) couldn’t stop the Iyer-Wadhera onslaught.
Looking Ahead: Punjab Eyes Maiden IPL Title
This win marks Punjab Kings’ first playoffs appearance since 2014, and with Shreyas Iyer in red-hot form, the franchise will now aim to lift their maiden IPL trophy.
The final awaits — and with momentum and a fearless leader on their side, Punjab Kings may just script the fairy tale ending to IPL 2025.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indians 203/6 (Suryakumar 44, Tilak 44; Omarzai 2/43)
Punjab Kings 207/5 in 19 overs (Iyer 87*, Wadhera 48; Ashwani Kumar 2/55)
Result: Punjab Kings won by 5 wickets.
Player of the Match: Shreyas Iyer